Part 10
By noon, the kitchen smelled of rich, baked cheese and warm bread. Sophia was sitting comfortably at the grand marble island, perched on a high chair with a massive porcelain bowl of gourmet macaroni in front of her. She was eating happily, her face smeared with cheese, completely oblivious to the corporate and social war that had just been declared outside the mansion walls.
Daniel sat two stools down from her, a cup of black coffee in his hands, watching her with a quiet smile. Maria stood nearby, still adjusting to the sudden shift in reality, unable to fully comprehend that the nightmare of the past few weeks was over.
A sleek black town car pulled up to the front entrance, and a minute later, Priya Shah walked into the kitchen. She carried a thick leather briefcase and a tablet, her expression sharp and professional. She stopped when she saw the scene—the billionaire owner of Hayes Technologies watching a toddler eat lunch.
"The audit is complete," Priya said, sitting down next to Daniel and opening her tablet. "It’s worse than we thought. Vanessa didn't just steal from the Children's Foundation. She’s been charging personal luxury items to the estate’s maintenance accounts for five months. Over forty thousand dollars in designer clothing and spa treatments, categorized as 'house cleaning supplies.'"
Maria gasped, lowering her head. "I never saw any of that... I swear, Mr. Hayes."
"I know you didn't, Maria," Daniel said softly, not taking his eyes off his coffee. He looked at Priya. "Have the legal team file the criminal charges for grand larceny and embezzlement. Do not offer a settlement. I want her name in the papers by tomorrow morning. Let her family try to buy their way out of a public trial."
"Consider it done," Priya nodded, a small, satisfied smirk appearing on her lips. She looked at Maria, then back to Daniel. "And what about the foundation management vacancy?"
Daniel turned his head to look at Maria. "Maria, how long have you been working here?"
"Almost two years, sir," she answered nervously.
"Before you came to work for me, Priya told me you completed three years of a business administration degree before you had to drop out to take care of Sophia. Is that correct?"
May you like
Maria swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "Yes, sir. I couldn't afford the tuition after my husband left."
"Good," Daniel said, setting his coffee down. "As of right now, your cleaning duties at this estate are terminated. You are the new Assistant Director of the Hayes Children’s Foundation. You'll be working directly under Priya. Your salary will be one hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year, full health insurance for you and Sophia, and a corporate housing allowance so you can move out of that apartment above the laundromat."
